Ocean Threats

Oceans are indispensable to life on Earth, the surface of which is 70% water. Oceans play a vital role in protecting biodiversityand stabilizing the global climate. Fish is the main source of animal protein for more than a billion human beings and also a source of income for millions of families around the world. But now the ocean is suffering…

The intensive exploitation of the marine world by humans is not a recent phenomenon, but in the last few decades it has undergone a brutal and tragic acceleration. Extraordinary technological progress and the shrinking of geographic limits have transformed the fishing industry into a terrible threat to ocean biodiversity. Over the centuries, humans have considered the marine environment an inexhaustible resource. But all the experts in the field agree that the ocean’s resources are not only unlimited, they are already in an alarming state of decline.

For those who want to have a better understanding of the issues, this section explores the main threats affecting life in and around the ocean: overfishing, destructive fishing and fish-farming methods, bycatch, pirate fishing, pollution and climate change.